SUPPOSED POISONING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 13936, 9 January 1911, Page 8

SUPPOSED POISONING.

DEATH OF A WOMAN,

At the inquest on Saiurday evening, regarding the sudden death of Edith Fanny Perkins, a married woman, residing at Heathcote Valley, Dr. Clayton, who made a post-mortem examination, expressed the opinion that the condilion of some of the organs was due to some irritant poison. The Coroner {Mr H. W. Bishop) thereiore adjourned the inquest in order to allow a report to be made by the Government analyst. Mrs Perkins, who was about 42 years old, and lived with her husband- and family, bad enjoyed good health vi til about, four months ago; but her health then becoming "run-down," Dr. Guthrie, of Lvttelton, was consulted. About twelve hours before her death, Dr. Clavton was summoned. It was stated that Mrs Perkins rose on -Saturday about 6 a.m., and some forty minutes later, while she was washing dishes, sho fell down, and expired in a few minutes without opening her eves or speaking. The body was removed to the morgue, where Dr. Clayton, assisted by Dr. Guthrie, held a .ost-mortem examination. . * In his evidence Dr. Clayton said that on Friday night, when he visited her, Mrs Perkins was in a state of extreme melancholy, and was listless and apathetic, though she said she was not suffering from worry or pain. witness ascribed this condition to the tact that sho was suffering, somewhat prematurely, from what was commonly called change of life, though there was nothino- that would justify the anticipation of any serious results. Ihe post-mortem examination showed that the woman had evidently been suffering from gastro-enteritis, and there was every appearance that this__ was caused by an irritant poison. Witness had preserved tho stomach and its contents and the intestines, and he recommended that, they should be analysed by the Government analyst. Witness added that there were no characteristics to indicate tho nature of the poison, if any. In repiy to a question from the Coroner as to how long it would take to set up the appearances mentioned, Dr. Clayton said that would depend on the nature of the poison. Ihe woman might have taken it some days before. In reply to another question witness said death was due to cardiac embolism induced by some form of gastroenteritis, which was caused by some irritant poison. Benjamii*. Perkins, railway storcv.f.ri, stated that he did not know that his wife had taken any injurious matter, and as far as he knew, there was no poison of any kind in his house. Dr. Guthrie said he agreed entirely with Dr. Clayton's evidence.

The Coroner said he would postp.itie giving bis verdict until the Government Analyst had reported on his analysis. There was always a risk that a womtn in the condition described would attempt to make away with herself.